Chapter Five

Prudhoe’s mouth opened in shock for a moment... then he closed it again. How did Korvyn know about paranormals? What did he know about them?

Evidently, Prudhoe had remained quiet too long, for Korvyn began rolling across the front room, heading for the sofa. “You’re not a shifter, or my brother would have scented you all over me when I walked into the house earlier this afternoon.” He half-turned and motioned toward the sofa. “Gonna join me?”

Feeling shock slither through him, Prudhoe bent and removed his boots. He peered at Korvyn through his lashes as he did so. His handsome human watched him with amusement and kept talking.

“And I’m pretty sure your eyes changed to lavender, so that means you’re not a vampire.” Korvyn looked extremely pleased with himself as he continued to grin at him. “After all, their eyes turn red when upset, hungry, or horny.” Sweeping his gaze over Prudhoe once more, he stated, “And I figure you’re big enough to be a gargoyle, but they can’t change into a human form until after they’ve bonded.”

Korvyn’s eyes narrowed as Prudhoe settled next to him. “I’d guess demon, but they call their souls an amina.” He hummed. “I think I’m out of guesses. Gonna tell me?”

“You tell me where you learned about paranormals,” Prudhoe began, finally finding his tongue. “And I will tell you anything you wish to know about the fae.” Seeing Korvyn’s eyes widen, he tapped his chest with his forefingers before leaning on the sofa’s arm, getting closer to his human. “That’s what I am. An enforcer for the fae king. I came here searching for a missing fae prince, and I sensed your presence, so I didn’t go back after I finished my assignment.”

Realizing he was rambling, Prudhoe smiled warmly at the human he planned to make his lover very soon. “I’ve been looking for you for weeks, Korvyn.” He reached out and rested his hand over his paramour’s wrist, needing the connection, to know how his words were affecting him. Finding Korvyn’s pulse point with his thumb, he felt the racing beat beneath his finger and massaged gently.

“I am so very happy to have finally met you.”

Korvyn clenched his fist under Prudhoe’s ministrations, then relaxed it again. “A fae. Wow.” He blew out a long breath as he nodded slowly. “Never realized you were real, too. Guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise.” Licking his lips, Korvyn reached over with his free hand and rested it on the back of Prudhoe’s hand, rubbing lightly. “So, where do you call home, Prudhoe? What does bonding with me mean to you?” Meeting Prudhoe’s gaze, his expression turned earnest. “Is a paramour to a fae similar to what a mate is to a shifter?”

Prudhoe dipped his head in a nod. “It is, and you know of shifters?”

“My brother is one. He shares his spirit with a serval cat.” When Prudhoe lifted one brow, betraying his confusion at the statement—I thought shifter genes always overruled human ones, so how could he have a shifter brother—Korvyn rolled his eyes before clarifying. “Half-brother. We have the same mother. A human mother. She met the man I call my father, a serval cat shifter, when I was a little over a year old.” He shrugged, grinning widely. “I’ve known about shifters all my life, even though I’m only human.”

“You are not only anything,” Prudhoe gently corrected. Realizing he didn’t have to explain the whole paranormals are real and live on this planet with humans thing, not to mention the importance of paramours—or mates, as Korvyn seemed to think of it—Prudhoe felt a sudden surge of arousal. “So, now that you know what I am and what you mean to me”—he paused long enough to swallow hard as he swept his gaze hungrily over his human—”will you accept me and agree to be with me until the end of our days?”

Korvyn’s cheeks took on a pinkish hue as he licked his lips. “I’ve always known paranormals do things fast.” He rubbed over Prudhoe’s forearm, possibly in an absent manner, for his brows were furrowed when he met Prudhoe’s gaze. “I do need you to explain a few more things, though. Um, seeing as I’ve never heard of fae living around here... where do you call home?” He grimaced as he muttered, “Are you going to ask me to move?”

Prudhoe realized there were a few gaps he needed to fill before moving forward. “No, I will not ask you to move,” he assured, pleasure filling him that he would have no trouble putting that concern to rest. “Humans are not allowed in the fae realm.” Right. Realms. “And fae live on a different plane of existence, so when we find our other half in a human or shifter or other paranormal living here, the fae stays here. That’s not to say we can’t go back ourselves to visit family or friends, but since we don’t wish to be away from our paramour for any length of time, it doesn’t happen often.”

Seeing Korvyn’s eyes widen, Prudhoe thought quickly, then remembered something else Korvyn had mentioned. “You are aware that demons exist, that they live on a different plane of existence and come here to carry out tasks for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?”

Korvyn nodded. “Yes. I heard the stories told by some of Kontra’s people. Uh, he’s an alpha grizzly shifter who, uh—”

Squeezing Korvyn’s wrist, Prudhoe winked. “I know him. Met him when his people helped free the prince I was looking for from a human trafficking ring.”

“Huh! I’m surprised we didn’t meet sooner then.”

Prudhoe shrugged. “Everything happens at the time it should for a reason.” He paused, trying to decide if he’d answered all Korvyn’s questions or not. “Did I miss anything?”

“Aren’t you going to miss your family? Your home?” Korvyn’s eyes were wide, and he appeared shocked. “By accepting a bond with me, that practically makes you an exile?”

Chuckling, Prudhoe slipped from the sofa and landed on his knees before Korvyn. “Oh, my sweet, handsome paramour. Like I said, I could go back if I wished, but I’m not close to my family.” Prudhoe shrugged, admitting, “I have one brother, whom I haven’t spoken to in many years, and my parents look down upon me because I chose to be an enforcer instead of joining the ranks of the court.” Moving his hands to Korvyn’s slim thighs, Prudhoe admitted, “You, my paramour, are the only thing I need in my life.”

Korvyn nibbled his bottom lip as he reached toward him. After pausing for a second in hesitation, he rested his hands on Prudhoe’s forearms. He slid his hands up, skimming his palms along the fine hairs on Prudhoe’s skin and causing them to stand on end.

A shiver worked down Prudhoe’s spine. His mouth went dry. He growled low in his throat—the only way he could express his enjoyment at feeling his soon-to-be lover’s touch.

And I will have him soon.

Korvyn finally met his gaze, peering at him through his lashes. His pensive expression concerned Prudhoe... until he spoke. “And, uh, you don’t mind that, um”—he glanced down at his legs—”that I’m in a wheelchair? Because that’s never going to change, awesome increased healing after bonding or not.”

Prudhoe slid his hands up and gripped Korvyn’s waist. Teasing his fingertips along his hip bones, he saw the flash of pleasure that lit his paramour’s eyes. He smiled, happy that his touch excited his man, that he could feel it.

“My only concern is how it affects you, Korvyn. How it affects your happiness.” Prudhoe glided his palms up, exploring his human’s shirt-covered torso. “I need to know the extent of your injuries so I can care for you.” He allowed a low growl to enter his voice as he grinned hungrily at Korvyn. “How to please you, make your body cry out for mine.”

Korvyn sucked in a harsh gasp as he leaned into Prudhoe’s touch. “Y-You seem to already know how to make that happen. D-Damage to my spine in a car accident. Can’t move my legs and little sensation on my skin. But you—” Gripping Prudhoe’s shoulders, perhaps for balance, he swayed in his chair. “Your t-touch feels”—Prudhoe scraped his thumbnails over each nipple, feeling them bead—”Oh! So good.”

“It’ll get even better,” Prudhoe assured, giving his paramour a feral grin. He began to wrap his arms around Korvyn’s waist so he could lift him, when an idea occurred to him. “I don’t know if your chair will fit through the doorways here.” The place was a single level, but it was an older cottage with a few narrow doorways... including the one to the bathroom. “Do you wish to use the toilet, or is there anything you need to do before I take you to my room and ravish you?”

Korvyn swallowed hard enough to cause his Adam’s apple to bob. “Forward,” he whispered around a chuckle. “Just like a lot of paranormals.” He began to shake his head, then paused. “I’d like to wheel my chair myself, thanks.”

Prudhoe’s confusion and concern must have shown on his face. Did his paramour think he would drop him? Did he not trust him?

“It’s not you,” Korvyn stated, rubbing his pectoral soothingly. His lips curved into a wry smile. “It’s me. It’ll help me get a feel for the space, and I—” Blowing out a breath, Korvyn admitted, “I’ve worked so damn hard to have control over my life after losing the use of my legs. Everyone in the family hovered.” Meeting Prudhoe’s gaze with his own serious one, Korvyn told him, “I don’t need you hovering, too. Carrying me in passion is one thing, and something I’m sure I’ll enjoy, but everything else... let me ask you if I need help. Okay?”

Prudhoe nodded. Although it would be hard to curb his desire to make Korvyn’s life easier, he would do it.

I just have to remember that doing everything for him doesn’t make him happy.

With that thought in mind, Prudhoe rose to his feet and followed Korvyn down the hall.